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SCIURUS HUDSONIUS HUDSONIUS, (Pallas) (Allen), 



THE RED SQUIRREL OR ObllCKAREE. 



Specific Character. — Body seven or eight inches long, longer than the tail. 

 Ears moderp.tely broad, coated with long hairs springing from the back and pro- 

 jecting behind in a tuft. Tail narrow, flat. Hind feet densely hairy to the 

 tubercles at the base of the toes, the under surface of which are themselves some- 

 what coated ; in summer somewhat naked. Above and on the sides, mixed black 

 and grayish rusty, a broad dash of bright ferruginous down the back and upper 

 surface of the tail. Lower surfaces of the body dull white ; hairs not annulated 

 except in very northern specimens. Tail rusty on the margin within which is a 

 narrow band of black, both colours greater in extent at its end. Hairs above uni^ 

 form ferruginous, not annulated, beneath annulated like the sides. 



Habitat. — Throughout Ontario and the northern states. 



Average Size. — Equal to that of a rat. 



Average Weight. — 8 ounces. 



Average Height. — 3 inches. 



Average Length — ^12 inches; nose to tail, 7 inches; tail, 5 inches. 



Value of Fur. — Valueless. 



This lively little squirrel is very common throughout Ontario, but except to 

 tiie boy sportsman it is not of much importance. 



It feeds upon nuts, and the seeds and buds of trees, and is very fond of the seeds 

 of the hemlock taken from its cones. Its nest is usually placed in a hole in a 

 tree, where it stores up a winter supply of food, although unlike most of the 

 other squirrels, it may be seen foraging during the coldest day in winter. It is 

 very destructive to birds' nests, devouring greedily both the eggs and young birds.. 



The young are produced in May. generally three at a time. 



